Brussels for culture buffs
Reader’s Digest singled out Brussels this season for dense cultural returns — museums, architecture and food scenes that reward slow, curious city travel rather than quick tourist stops Best places to travel in 2026, according to Reader's Digest.
Kanal—Centre Pompidou is scheduled to open on 28 November 2026 with roughly 40,000 square metres of exhibition space, positioning it among Europe’s largest new contemporary-art venues. (brusselstimes.com) The museum will occupy a converted 1930s Citroën garage on the former industrial Zenne river site, a transformation announced as part of the Kanal project’s urban-revitalisation plan. (euronews.com) Bozar’s Hall M and Studio reopened after an extensive renovation that began in March 2024, with upgrades to acoustics, soundproofing, fire safety and audience sightlines aimed at modernising the Victor Horta–designed complex. (bozar.be) Brussels’ institutional depth is reflected in a citywide network of more than 120 museums and an active season calendar that, for example, lists Le Botanique’s “Mythica” running from 25 October 2025 to 1 March 2026. (brusselsmuseums.be) The dining scene has been buoyed by guide-coverage and new entries: the Michelin Guide lists about 199 Brussels-area restaurants in its 2026 selection, while Gault&Millau and local coverage have flagged standouts such as Humus x Hortense and Eliane. (guide.michelin.com) Reader’s Digest’s seasonal pick cites these dense cultural returns—major museum launches, reopened landmark venues and an energized restaurant scene—as the concrete reasons Brussels landed on its “best places to travel in 2026” list. (qz.com)
